The announcement comes days after the BBC aired an investigative documentary on its Arabic-speaking channels highlighting links between the war-torn country’s vast drug industry and the Syrian regime.
According to the Syrian Ministry of Information, the BBC has been repeatedly warned for broadcasting misleading reports that rely on the statements and testimonies of “terrorists” and those who are “hostile” to the country.
“We will continue to provide unbiased news and information to our audience across the Arabic-speaking world,” the BBC wrote in a statement to the AP, underlining that they provide unbiased independent journalism.
The illegal drug industry, especially the amphetamine-like preparation captagon, has flourished in Syria in recent years.
While experts say manufacturing has been a way to generate revenue in the country’s crippled economy, the addictive drug has plagued neighboring Jordan and Saudi Arabia.